A man who left a victim scarred for life after slashing him with a blade in Castlefin has been jailed for four years.
Victim Robert Kennedy was out celebrating his 50th birthday when he was set upon by Ryan Campbell in July 2022 at Longbrae, Castlefin.
Mr Kennedy had to undergo plastic surgery and suffered significant scarring to his neck and ear described by a medic as “serious disfiguration” in the terrifying incident.
A 25-year-old, with an address at Davis Crescent, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, Campbell was initially charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Kennedy, but he entered a plea of guilty to a charge of assault causing harm, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
A jury was initially empaneled for a trial in the matter, but on the trial date Campbell pleaded guilty.
Detective Garda John O’Sullivan outlined details of the incident to State Barrister Ms Fiona Crawford BL.
Mr Kennedy was out celebrating his 50th birthday and went out with family members to some bars in the Castlefin area.
As they headed home at the junction of the Raphoe road and the Ballybofey-Lifford road, they could see two males pushing the victim’s nephew.
Mr Kennedy outlined to gardai that one of the men told him: “Fuck off Kennedy this has nothing to do with you”. Another man told him: “It’s got fuck all to do with you, I’m Campbell”. At this point, he realised the man was Ryan Campbell.
The accused “came swinging” at Mr Kennedy, who defended himself by pushing him away.
Campbell again attacked the victim “with hard punches”. He was punched several times, the court was told.
It was only when he returned home that Mr Kennedy realised he was bleeding. He went to the bathroom and noticed blood coming from his head. He started to feel weak and fell on the ground.
Mr Kennedy’s next recollection of the night was when he was being taken to hospital in an ambulance.
Mr Kennedy had to be transferred from Letterkenny University Hospital to Galway where he underwent plastic surgery. He sustained a six-inch slash to his neck while he was also slashed on the ear and cut on the head.
Mr Kennedy will be “scarred for life”, the court heard and images of the injuries were handed into the court by the investigating garda.
The area was declared as a crime scene, but the weapon used was not recovered. Mr Kennedy’s injuries were consistent with those inflicted by a blade, Detective Garda O’Sullivan said.
A report from a plastic surgeon said that Mr Kennedy had been assaulted with a “sharp object” that resulted in numerous lacerations. Mr Kennedy had to have surgery in Galway and the doctor said the injuries were “serious” in nature and would result in permanent scarring of the victim’s left ear and neck with “serious disfiguration” suffered.
Having identified Campbell as a suspect, gardai called to a house where Campbell was known to have a connection, but he wasn’t present. Campbell was contacted and asked to make himself available for interview by gardai, but he declined and he was not apprehended until he was arrested for another matter.
In a victim impact statement, which was read in court by Detective Garda O’Sullivan, Mr Kennedy said his life was “shattered” by the incident, which occurred after he had a night out with family to celebrate his 50th birthday. He told how he has been fearful of Campbell since and has installed extra security measures at his home.
Mr Kennedy said the incident had a “traumatic and devastating” effect on him and he has been left “constantly looking over my shoulder”. He suffers from constant anxiety and stress and that he feels the need to constantly check doors and windows “in case you break in and finish what you started”.
Campbell took to the witness box and told Judge Aylmer that he has since had a “spiritual awakening” and was previously “powerless over alcohol”.
He asked for forgiveness and to “cleanse me from my sins”.
Mr Colm Smyth SC, barrister for Campbell, said his late plea was still of value to the court. Mr Smyth said there was no doubt that his client left a serious injury on Mr Kennedy. He said Campbell acknowledges his actions and has indicated his remorse.
Campbell has seven previous convictions in this jurisdiction – including four road traffic offences and three theft offences – and two in Northern Ireland, including one of possession of an article and criminal damage.
In sentencing Campbell, Judge John Aylmer said a section 4 charge would have been one “commensurate with the injuries inflicted” by Campbell.
He said the photos submitted showed the extent and Campbell has acknowledged inflicting the injuries with a sharp blade – “clearly a very, very dangerous weapon”.
Judge Aylmer told Campbell he was fortunate that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) saw fit to accept a plea of assault causing harm, a sentence which carries a potential maximum of five years imprisonment.
“You are very fortunate that I am limited,” Judge Aylmer told Campbell. Judge Aylmer said this offence was at the uppermost end of the scale and “in fact it is well beyond it.”
He said the starting point was the maximum available five years. Judge Aylmer said he accepts that Campbell is remorseful for the offending, but that was the extent of the mitigation.
The sentence was reduced to one of four years imprisonment with the term backdated to when Campbell went into custody in December 2024.
Dressed in a grey tracksuit, Campbell was led away by prison officers.
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